Amended drone bill passes full Senate

After Sen. Craig Estes smoothed concerns from groups that testified in a committee hearing this week, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would criminalize the use of drones for surveillance, with several exemptions.

Sen. Craig Estes shepherded a bill through the Texas Senate to criminalize the use of drones for surveillance.

“I have met all of the associated groups,” Estes said. “As drone use continues to increase, we must set safeguards to protect the rights and property of Texans.”

But an unexpected change to the law came in the form of an amendment by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, which explicitly allows citizens to film the actions of police officers. Previously, Texas law didn’t address the act, staffers said; the amendment also allows someone sued for documenting the actions of police officers to collect reasonable attorney fees incurred in connection with the prosecution.

“It’ll make it easier for you to do your job,” Ellis said to reporters.

Earlier this week, representatives from the TAB expressed concern about the law, saying that legitimate media outlets don’t currently use unmanned aircraft but could in the future. The group asked Estes to reconsider the bill, and he added an amendment to exempt from the law newspapers, TV and radio stations, and movie producers.

The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that more than 30,000 drones will be operating in the U.S. by 2020. The bill would make it a Class C misdemeanor to use the drones to capture an image “with the intent to monitor or conduct surveillance on the individual or the real property captured in the image,” it states.

The proposal includes about 45 exemptions, including a valid search or arrest warrant, surveillance for public safety purposes, and surveillance conducted by the F.A.A. or U.S. Military.